Track



G. H. PEIFER.

TRACK. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4. 1921.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

lNVE/VT? G. H. P sf PER,

A TTUHNEYS I mi l.. III.. 1... .I 1 IIIE. .Il-.IILWIIIII u I l I\ l Q lill I IIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIII IIIIIII.IIIIIIXIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIII III' IIIIIIIII'II'IIII IIIII UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TRACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 1921.

Application filed Januaiy 4, 1921. Serial No. 434,879.

vTo all wlw/m, 'it 'may concer/n.'

vadapted for light gaged railways or otherwise and to replace the heavy and expensive rolled rails, and the usual, toy rails and coupling means, while also permitting and facilitating bending of the rail sections and the retention thereof in any desired angular or bent position,

The invention comprehends an improved rail which may also be used in connection with miniature railways or trains, such as toys and which include a. composite makeup produced from sheet metal having an inserted ball or tread portion which may be in the formV of a conductor so that an electrical circuit may be completed through the track rails, the rails being provided with bed members of wood running longitudinally beneath the same, while novel means are provided to join the ends of the track rails when constructed as described.

i Other and further objects of my invention will becomereadily apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, Y

wherein: Y Figure 1 is a side elevation of track rails constructed in accordance with the invention as applied to a road bed construction.

FigQQ is a longitudinal sectional plan view thereof taken through the web of the rail.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the bed member and a rail mounted thereon, andA Fig; 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a track rail section and showing the joint or connecting means for the meeting ends of the raill sections.

Referring-to the drawings in detail, in which Alike reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views,

- the improved track construction consists of rof hard wood blocks, planed smooth on all a series of track rails mounted on longi- `tudina'l base or bed members 10, preferably sides and having openings 11 for the reception of securing nails or spikes 12, by means of which the rails are secured in positlon. Of course, it is to be understood that the base or bed members may be laid upon a suitable foundation or support, depending upon the use of the track structure in practice.

The track rail sections are preferably iiexible being produced from sheet tin or other suitable malleable or resilient sheet metal as idicated at 13. These rectangular sections of sheet metal are bent upon themselves to form an intermediate tubular or cylindrical tread or ball portion 14 which is reinforced with a core 15 preferably of round or circular cross section, corresponding t0 the cross section of the hollow or tubular ball or head portion 16 and extending throughout the length of each section. This core is preferably of copper wire or other conducting material and terminating at the ends of the sections for abutment or Contact so that a circuit may be closed through the same when the sections are joined or connected.

The remaining portions of the sheet metal sections forming the track rails or rail sections are brought in juxta-position as shown at 16, and extended in parallel relation and preferably slightly spaced apart in close proximity or in Contact to produce the web vportions 17, the longitudinal edges of which are directed outwardly as shown at 18 to produceV the oppcsitely extending flanges 19 forming the rail base.

rlhe edge portions of the flanges 19 forming the base of the rail are directed inwardly, being preferably turned upwardly and inwardly' or rebent to form a reinforcing or binding portion 20 designed to be engaged by the overhanging heads of the fastening means 12 and reinforcing the rail at the point of engagement of the fastening means therewith when driven into the base or bed members 10 so as to extend longitudinally of and above the latter. As shown, the ends of the base or bed members 10 are disposed in spaced rela-tion, but may be other- ,wise related. The rails or rail sections, are

arranged upon and longitudinally of said base or bed members and means are provided to join the meeting ends of said sections.

For the latter purpose, one end of each section is provided with a pair of openings 21 extending through the web portions thereof in horizontal alinement and the opposite A end of the section oi' the abutting end of the rivets 23, said fasteners or strips straddling sa-id web portions or being disposed upon opposite sides thereof in alineinent and one being shorterrthan theother. The ends of Vthe strips 22 are provided with oppositely extending lugs or catches 24k producing shoulders designed to Yengage oi' snap into p the openings 2l and lock the rail sections together in perfect alinernent, while permitting convenient andeasy connection Yand disconnection thereof. At the saine time, the

' cores l5 will be disposed in engagement, the

contact serving to complete a circuit therethrough in addition to the fact that the core serves to reinforce the head or ball portion vof each railsectioii, as well as facilitating and permitting bending of the rail sections and the retention thereof in any desired bent position angular or curved.

ln view of the foregoing, it is thought that the operation of the device will be readily practical value thatit will commend itself to those skilled in the art. Y

-Having thus described the invention what is'claiined iszl. In a track construction, a series of rails,

veach rail consisting of a sheet metal section doubled upon itself to form a cylindrical tread portion and disposed with flat portions adjacent to each other, the edges being directed outwardly to forni flanges, ak con-V ductor core in each tread portion and having the ends thereof terminating ad]acent the ends of the tread portions for abutment or contact when the rails are joined or con 1 nected, and means for connecting said rails.

2. In a track construction, a series'of rails, each rail consisting of a sheet meta-l section doubled vupon itself to form atubular ball portion and disposed with flat portions adj acent to each other, the edges being directed Aoutwardly to form flanges, anda reinforc# ing core in said ball portion and Xtending throughout the lengths of the rails.

3. In a track construction, a series of rails,

each ail consisting of a sheet metal section doubled upon itself to form acylindrical tread portion and disposed with flat portions adjacent toeach other, the edges being directed outwardly to form flanges to forni a basefor the rails, said flanges having the edges thereof directed inwardly, a core filling said tread portion and serving as a conductor, and cooperating means lat the ends of abutting sections for securing the same together.

Y 4. Ina traclr construction, a series of rails,` feach rail consisting of a sheet metal sectionV doubled upon itself to form a hollow tubular tread portion and disposed withflat portions ad-'acent to each other Y the edges beinff' Ywith oppositely extending lugs to engage the openings'of the abutting sect-ions.

5. `The combination with abutting rail sections having web portions, of fastening means for connecting the same, one end vof each section being provided with a pairof spaced horizontally alined openings near the end thereof, spring strips disposed upon opposite sides of the webv portionat the other Aend of the sections and secured together through the web portion, the free ends of the strips being formed with rebent portions extendinginwardly toward Veach other to engage said openings, one of said strips beving longer than the other. apparent and in view Vof the simplicity and 1 6. ln a' track rail, .a rectangular lsheet folded longitudinally upon itself Y equi-distantly from the longitudinaledges thereof' and shaped to provide a cylindrical ball portion, a wirecore in said ballportion and extending throughout theVV length'- thereof,

`said folds being then extended in parallel relation to form a flat web, thefremaining por-V tion being directed outwardly to form base Vflanges and reinforcing means at the edges n a a l c of said flanges. Y n

7. In a` track rail, a`v rectangular sheet ioo folded longitudinally uponV itself equi-.dis-

tantly from the edges thereof and rolled to provide a cylindrical ball portion, a wire core in'said ball portion, said folds being then extended in parallel relation ,to form a flat web, the remaining portions*V being di# iected outwardly to form base flanges, the edges of said base flanges being turned upwardly and-inwardly. and pressed against the upper faces of the flanges to provide side bindings, and means for jjoiningvsaidV web portions. 'l f j c Y 8. lnY Va track rail,V a rectangularsheet folded longitudinally upon itself vequi-distantly from the edges Vthereof and formed to provide acylindrical ball portion, avwire core in said ball portion, said'foldsv being jthen extended in, parallel relation tocform a flat web, the remainingr portions beingV di- -rected outwardly to form base flanges, the

edges of said base flanges being turnedY upwardly and'inw'ardly and pressed against :the upperffaccs 'of the flanges to provide side bindings, 'a .bed member longitudinally therebeneath and securing' means. extending into the bed'member and overlying said bindings.

9. In a track rail, a rectangular sheet folded longitudinally upon itself equi-distantly from the edges thereof and rolled to provide a cylindrical ball portion, a Wire core in said ball portion, said folds being then extended in parallel relation to forin a flat Web, the remaining portions being directed outwardly to forin base flanges, the edges of said base flanges being turned upwardly and inwardly and pressed against the upper faces of the flanges to provide side bindings, one end being provided with a pair of spaced openings in the opposed web portions, and snap fasteners joining the web portions at the opposite ends and adapted to engage said openings to hold abutting sections in alinernent With the portions thereof conforming at their surfaces to produce a continuous track.

l0. ln a track rail, a rectangular sheet folded longitudinally upon itself equi-dis tantly from the edges thereof and rolled to provide a tubular ball portion, a conductor cord in said ball portion and extending entirely through the saine to the ends thereof, said folds being then extended in parallel relation to form a flat web, the remaining portions being directed outwardly to forni base flanges, and means for joining said web portions to secure abutting rail sections together.

ll. A rail having a rebent sheet forming a tubular ball portion, a web portion and a base portion, and a core in said ball and extending throughout the length thereof, whereby when abutting rail sections are secured together, the ends of said cores will contact to form a continuous conductor.

l2. A track rail having a rebent sheet forming a tubular ball or tread portion, a web portion and a base portion and a reinforcing core filling said ball portion and running from end to end, said core being adapted to maintain the rail in any desired bent position.

13. A track rail comprising a rebent sheet forming a tubular ball portion and a reinforcing core forming conductor in said ball portion and extending throughout the length thereof and adapted When the rail sections are secured together in abutting relation to contact to form a continuous conductor.

14. A track rail of sheet metal bent to provide side portions and having a ball portion, a Web portion and a base portion, and a bendable reinforcing conductor running through the rail to the ends thereof and adapted to retain the saine in any desired curved or angular position.

GUY HARRISON PEIFER. 

